Our current world is more
connected than ever before, thanks to the digital highways which under-arch and
override our societal landscapes. The Internet and smart technology are laying
fresh tracks into
uncharted territories.
Opportunities abound for streamlining processes and reducing cost. People can
be connected and opinions gathered at a fraction of the time, drastically
reducing cost and enhancing engagement. With all of this potential, isn’t it
about time that the project approval and community consultation process stepped squarely in to the
digital age for the benefit of all?

For project owners, community consultation is a critical and valuable part
of the overall project approval process. However, it is time-consuming. Project
developers all have stories about the impact of approvals and consultation on
their project viability. Delays, appeals and redesigns all add time and cost,
which can stifle investment and stall economic buoyancy. As our economies
nervously navigate their way through the post GFC fallout, added time and cost
are the last thing we need in a world that is desperate for new infrastructure.

On the flip side, who wants a
monstrosity built next to them? Who wants something imposed on their
neighbourhood and its quality of life? Don’t most people want to be asked what
they think and be given the opportunity to provide their opinion?

Two sides of a coin that, at face
value, seem inexorably at odds. But does it have to be that way? In an age of
big data, selfies, tweets and immersive visualisation, could digital engagement
bridge the gap between divided opinions or at the very least move the dial on
timelines so that the future arrives quicker than when it is expected?

Smart project owners and governmentsare realising that digital strategies can supplement the traditional
consultation process, with potentially game changing results.

Apps as multiple stakeholder mobilisers

With digital
rewriting our points of connection; the average individual is now empowered to
have an equal say in the creation of a shared space. Theupgrade of Wynyard Station in Sydney is a case in
point. Using a custom smartphone app to communicate with its time-poor and
tech-savvy audience, the app offered its users a glimpse into the future look
and feel of the station during the design phase. The app not only generated
public support; it resolved security concerns and allowed the team to regularly
communicate with a large audience via push notifications.

Taken a step further, photo
realistic visualisations can now be produced in a matter of days using powerful
gaming engines. These would give a project’s end-user (the community) virtual
‘driveability’ of a project model long before construction.

Gaming closes the gap on comms

And whoever knew safety hazard
education could be fun? Ausgrid’s vegetation management community relations program
found a way of turning a lesson on vegetation management into a virtual game of
arson. Using augmented reality (AR) helped the project team to demonstrate that
precaution should be taken when planting trees around power lines. Through AR
goggles, participants were able to ‘see’ a virtual tree and virtual powerline
in the ‘real world’. Another participant then moved specifically designed
markers linked to these virtual elements, setting the virtual tree on fire if
placed too close to the virtual powerline. The game was a success – translating
a simple message about safety through activity-based engagement.

Selfies to draw in new audiences

In addition, let’s not forget the
most potent sociological tool of our day: the selfie. A recent survey posing
three questions to its participants and asking them to respond with a yes or
no, à la selfie style, cutting out cumbersome paper trails and data entry to
achieve real-time reporting and reach a formerly excluded group of the
population.

Failing to think beyond our
former paradigms and neglecting to redesign our community engagement processes,
amplified by modern technology, could mean that we are overlooking powerful
opportunities for streamlining project socialisation and acceptance. For those stuck
in the past, the only game they’ll be playing is one of ‘catch up’ down the
line.

What other digital tools have you
seen work well in community consultation? Share your thoughts in the
comments section below.

(Aurecon has launched a new futuristic blog! CalledJust Imagine, it provides a glimpse into the future for curious
readers, exploring ideas that are probable, possible and for the imagination. This post originally appeared on Aurecon’s Just Imagine blog. Get
access to the latest blog posts as soon as they are published by subscribing to the blog.)

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